Why you're not sleeping

Most Popular

29 April 2015

Not sleeping at night? You're not alone. Far from having the standard eight hours of sleep a night, the average Brit is getting just six hours and 28 minutes. And what's keeping us awake are our TVs, tablets and phones.

In a survey of 1000 UK adults aged 18-64 carried out for The Fine Bedding Company:

34% said they watched boxsets or TV programmes in bed over the internet31% checked social media feeds17% checked emails or worked11% did some online shopping

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The average amount of time spent in bed before going to sleep was 52 minutes, and 56 percent said they weren't satisfied with the amount of sleep they get every night

'Our bodies are hard-wired to sleep for 30 per cent of our lifetime and our brains need it to make good decisions, concentrate better and improve our memory,' says Sara Wadsworth of The Fine Bedding Company. 'Yet it's the first thing to be compromised on when we need to add a few extra hours to our day.'

Most Popular

Scientists have spotted a link between the 'blue-light' emitted from mobile phones and computers and our inability to get to sleep. Light at the blue end of the spectrum suppresses the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, and 40 per cent of the people in the survey admitted that their electronic device was the last thing they put down before going to sleep.

5 Ways To Make Sure You Get To Sleep More Quickly And Sleep Better Once You Get There

1. Reduce the amount of 'blue-light' you're exposed to at least 30 minutes before bedtime – turn off any screens and avoid anything that over-stimulates, like TV.

2. Make the room as dark as possible – perhaps even try using blackout blinds. This helps to increase levels of our 'sleep' hormone melatonin.

3. Keep it cool. Your room should be no warmer than 18C for a comfortable night. Try a smart thermometer on your radiator to control the temperature

4. Choose the right bed linen – cool cotton sheets and the right weight of duvet. For instance, The Fine Bedding Company's Breathe duvet, from £45 for a single, has a unique climate control action to keep you at the right temperature throughout the night.

Finally, Sara Wadsworth recommends: 'Instead of switching on a screen, try some gentle yoga stretches, listening to soothing music or even meditating. There are lots of apps available designed to enhance sleep that can be listened to in bed, putting that mobile phone to good use.'